Access : From Cauterets take the D920 (regional road) for about 10 km up to the Pont d'Espagne.
Start : Parking area at Pont d'Espagne
Climb : 370 metres
Average Climbing time : 2 h 30
Map : IGN TOP 25 1/25 000 1670 OT "Vignemale-Arrens-Cauterets"

Forest walk following the river Gave. Get your binoculars ready as the Marcadau valley is a great place to watch Isards (Pyrenean chamois) and Marmots. From the plateau du Clot take the left bank ( which means the right side of the torrent as you are going up ).

You will cross a first glacial hummock via l'Escala du Camou then you will cross a large avalanche corridor : the Lit Sarrouère. Be attentive as herds of Isards (Pyrenean chamois) often graze on these grassy areas early on Summer mornings.

Getting over a second glacial hummock will take you to the Cayan plateau, a large horizontal area where the Marcadau and the Pouey-Trénous streams meander peacefully.

At the end of it, cross the Pourtère bridge and rejoin the right bank route.
A long tight bend crosses the third glacial hummock called the Pourtère, and the path comes out onto the grassy Estalounqué plateau. On the other side of it is a short steep stretch : l'Escala de la Cardinquère.

You can observe mountain pine nestling in the cracks in the granite, and the Scots Pine growing on the south-facing slopes.
After the very small Petit Marcadau plateau, you will reach the point of confluence of the rivers Gave d'Arratille and Gave du Marcadau.

This confluence delimits the grazing lands of Quiñon de Panticosa in Spain and of Saint-Savin in France. In this zone grazing rights belong to the French until the end of July and to the Spanish until the end of the year.

Another short climb and you will reach the Wallon refuge, also called Marcadau refuge (Marcadau comes from the Spanish "mercado" meaning market).

It was in the past a place for exchange and meetings between the French and the Spanish. Same route for the way back down to the Cayan plateau, where you will take the right bank.
The road is a cross-country ski run during the Winter and winds down through the fir forest and along the shores of Paradis lake.